Qualities
There is an expansive number of associations with each element of the mandala, so that the mandala becomes a cipher and mnemonic visual thinking instrument and concept map; a vehicle for understanding and decoding the whole of the Dharma. Some of the associations include:
| Family/Buddha | Colour ← Element → Symbolism | Cardinality → Wisdom → Attachments → Gestures | Means → Maladaptation to Stress | Season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buddha/Vairocana | white ← space → wheel | center → all accommodating → form → Teaching the Dharma | Turning the Wheel of Dharma → ignorance | n/a |
| Vajra/Akshobhya | blue ← water → scepter, vajra | east → nondualist → consciousness → humility | protect, destroy → anger, hate | spring |
| Padma/Amitābha | red ← fire → lotus | west → inquisitive → perception → meditation | magnetize, subjugate → selfishness | summer |
| Ratna/Ratnasambhava | gold/yellow ← earth → jewel | south → equanimous → feeling → giving | enrich, increase → pride, greed | autumn |
| Karma/Amoghasiddhi | green ← air, wind → double vajras | north → all accomplishing → mental formation, concept → fearlessness | pacify → envy | winter |
The Five Wisdom Buddhas are protected by the Five Wisdom Kings, and in Japan are frequently depicted together in the Mandala of the Two Realms and are in the Shurangama Mantra revealed in the Shurangama Sutra. They each are often depicted with consorts, and preside over their own Pure Lands. In East Asia, the aspiration to be reborn in a pure land is the central point of Pure Land Buddhism. Although all five Buddhas have pure lands, it appears that only Sukhāvatī of Amitabha, and to a much lesser extent Abhirati of Akshobhya (where great masters like Vimalakirti and Milarepa are said to dwell) attracted aspirants.
| Buddha (Skt) | Consort | Dhyani Bodhisattva | Pure Land | seed syllable |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vairocana | White Tara or Dharmadhatvishvari | Samantabhadra | central pure land Akanistha Ghanavyuha | Om |
| Akshobhya | Locanā | Vajrapāni | eastern pure land Abhirati | Hum |
| Amitābha | Pandara | Avalokiteshvara | western pure land Sukhāvatī | Hrih |
| Ratnasaṃbhava | Mamaki | Ratnapani | southern pure land Shrimat | Trah |
| Amoghasiddhi | Green Tara | Viśvapāni | northern pure land Prakuta | Ah |
Read more about this topic: Five Dhyani Buddhas
Famous quotes containing the word qualities:
“I do not think that what is called Love at first sight is so great an absurdity as it is sometimes imagined to be. We generally make up our minds beforehand to the sort of person we should like, grave or gay, black, brown, or fair; with golden tresses or raven locks;—and when we meet with a complete example of the qualities we admire, the bargain is soon struck.”
—William Hazlitt (1778–1830)
“Pedants make a great rout about criticism, as if it were a science of great depth, and required much pains and knowledge—criticism however is only the result of good sense, taste and judgment—three qualities that indeed seldom are found together, and extremely seldom in a pedant, which most critics are.”
—Horace Walpole (1717–1797)
“Whether a man hides his bad qualities and vices or confesses them openly, his vanity wants to gain an advantage by it in both cases: just note how subtly he distinguishes between those he will hide his bad qualities from and those he will face honestly and candidly.”
—Friedrich Nietzsche (1844–1900)